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She said: "I know people in the area were sad to hear of this theft and I'm pleased to be able to report that the statue has been recovered and will be handed back to Calne Town Council.

"This incident proves the importance of the media in helping publicise appeals. In this particular case the stolen item had been quickly sold on to a reclamation yard in Gloucestershire, where the owner had no knowledge of where it had come from.

"However, he soon saw the appeal on the local news, recognised the statue and phoned the town council and the police to let us know."

The statue was stolen from Phelps Parade in Calne at some point between the evening of Sunday 1 October and the early hours of Monday 2 October.